2005

The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 16.1606 Saturday, 24 September 2005
From: Jim Blackie <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: Thursday, 22 Sep 2005 13:21:21 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: BBC Shakespeare This Autumn
I am admittedly new to the sonnets and to the "biography" of WS himself.
Nonetheless, it came as a surprise to me to learn that the WH of the
sonnets was not really HW, Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton,
and patron to WS. I imagine I had been merrily going about thinking on
HW was patron, as WS probably needed little patronage once his fame was
established in London. To hear this both from a member of this esteemed
list AND a copy of "Shakespeare's Sonnets" an analysis by J. Dover
Wilson, astounded me. I am further surprised to read Ms Greenhalgh
mention the Dark Lady was (probably) a courtesan, as I had read (and
cannot for the life of me recall where I read this or who wrote it) that
the most likely candidate was the Jewish wife of a townsman. And of
course, that the young man had swept the dark lady off for at least one
liaison. Could this be wrong, too?
Aside from my expressed surprise and admission of ignorance, I suppose
I'm asking where this information/theory came from? Can anyone point me
in the direction of some reliable reading material that explores
this/these issues?
Still learning and reading---
Jim Blackie
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